Skip navigation to main content

You are here: UNE Home / Course and Unit Catalogue / 2010 / A-Z / ECOL204

Sub sections:

Quick Search

Quick Links

Year:

ECOL204 Ecological Methods

Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study Online Level
Armidale Semester 1 On Campus C - Internet access required
Armidale Semester 1 Off Campus C - Internet access required
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
10 April 2010 13 April 2010 Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites BIOL110
Co-requisites ECOL203 or ECOL210 or candidature in a postgraduate award
Restrictions ECOL404 or EM331 or EM531
Notes None
Combined Units ECOL404 - Ecological Methods
Coordinator(s) Peter Clarke (pclarke1@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

A fundamental skill in ecology is the ability to collect and analyse biological data efficiently and correctly. The correct methods depend on the research question, available resources (equipment, time and money), and the logistic constraints of survey/experimental design. This unit links sampling methods and survey designs for assessing changes along ecological gradients with suitable techniques for data analysis and presentation. Topics: the fundamental requirements (e.g., randomisation, replication) of survey and experimental designs, types of ecological data, commonly-used methods to sample plants and animals, and technical skills for field surveys. How to present and analyse ecological data with a focus on correct interpretation of the results and the limitations of the sampling and analytical methods is also covered.
Prescribed Material
Mandatory 		Text(s):

Note: Students are expected to purchase prescribed material

Statistics for Terrified Biologists
ISBN: 9781405149563
van Emden, H., Wiley-Blackwell 1st ed. 2008
Text refers to: Semester 1 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Offer of some subjects is subject to viability. Information in these unit descriptions is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 15% 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8
Assignment 2 15% 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8
Assignment 3 15% 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8
Assignment 4 15% 1500
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8
Final Examination 2 hrs 40%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-5 GA: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. design a survey or ecological experiment with adequate replication and randomisation, and identify potential flaws in design, sampling methods and analysis;
  2. survey environmental variables, plants and animals in a standard, rigorous way using conventional methods in the field;
  3. apply these methods to assessing changes along ecological gradients (e.g., altitude, latitude, human disturbance);
  4. use graphical packages and computing software in the environmental sciences with confidence;
  5. plot, analyse and interpret data from ecological surveys and experiments using conventional graphical and statistical techniques.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students are given lectures, notes and practicals from practitioners that are at the leading edge of the discipline of ecology. 		True True True
2 Communication Skills
Students are given assignments that must report in sound scientific writing. 		True True True
3 Global Perspectives
Students learn about the global implications of the interactions that drive the distribution and abundance of all biota. 		True False False
4 Information Literacy
Students are given assignment that require then to extensively research the scientific literature. 		True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Students learn that scientific knowledge requires the constant testing of new ideas. 		True False False
6 Problem Solving
Students are given problems that are designed to induce thinking challenges and these are resolved using ecological examples. 		True True True
7 Social Responsibility
Students learn that scientific advocacy and environmental advocacy are related and those sound scientific knowledge are best place to be advocates for the environment. 		True False False
8 Team Work
Students work together in groups for practicals and to present group results to the class. 		True True True
   

Email to a friend